Hydroplane.



C. RUHE.

HYDROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. 9, Isls.

Patented Febfz?, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l C. RUHE.

HYDROPLANE. APPLICATION FILEIJ MAR. 9, I9I6.

Ptentd Feb.27,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TQE.

CARLETON RUHE, OF CLEAN, NEW YORK.

HYDBOPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Teb. ai?, ier?.

Application filed March 9, 1916. ASerial'lio. 83,141.

My inventionrelates to improvements in" hydroplanes. y

An important object of the invention 1s to so construct the hull ofthehydroplane that thefrictional resistance that the same Aencounters withthe water will be reduced to the minimum whereby the hydroplane canobtain a high speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for supplying gasor air between a portion of the hull of the hydroplane and the water,thus reducing the friotion between the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vhydroplane of theabove lmentioned character, which is not liable to oapsize, and whichmay be properly steered in a convenient manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication and inwhich like numeralsy are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hydroplane embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 83 of Fig. 1, f

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same, and,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line-6 6 of Fig. 1.

Tn the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a hullof the boat, as a whole, which has a substantial width and is providedwith a forward pointed end 11, las moreclearly shown in Fig. 4. .Thehull 10 has a forward bottom portion 12 and a rear bottom portion 18.The forward bottom portion 12 is substantially V-shaped incross-section, and tapers downwardly, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8.The rear bottom portion 13 1s offset upwardly with respect to theforward bottom portion 12 at a point approximately equidistantly spacedfrom the ends of the hull 10, providing a shoulder or step 14, as shown.The rear bottom portion 18 is curved in cross-section, as more clearlyshown in Fig. 5, and has its concave surface arranged lowermost.' Thiscurved rear bottom portion 13 is provided at its longitudinal edges withflat portions or' runners 15, which are inclined downwardlylongitudinally toward their rear ends, the curvature of the bottomYportion 18 decreasing toward its forward end or the step 14, at whichpoint it is substantially fiat,as shown. Y

The hull 10 lis provided in its top with an opening 16, receiving asuitable high power engine 17,' mounted upon a frame 18 and rigidly heldthereby, in place within the hull." This engine embodies a crank shaft19, connected with speed increasing transmissiongearing (not shown) in agear case 20. This transmission gearing 1s connected with and drives apropeller shaft 21, which is slightly inclined and extendslongitudinallyV of the hull, at the longitudinal axis thereof. The shaft21 is journaled through a bearing 22, at its rear end, carried by abracket 28, which is rigidly attached to the rear end of the rear bottomportion 12, as shown. Connected with the rear end of the shaft 21 is apropeller 24, as shown.

The numeral 25 designates a rotatable or turbine air pump, of any wellknown or preferred construction, preferably of the type shown anddescribed in my co-pending application for air pumps, filed December 21,1915, Serial No. 68,010. Thisturbine is Y `mounted withinthe forwardportion of the hull 10 and has its fan orfans driven by the propellershaft 21. It might vbe stated that the transmission gearing 20 isadapted to step up the speed of rotation of the engine, whereby theshaft 21 is driven at ahigh speed, such as 2,000 revolutions per minute.The casing of the air pump 25 has connection with suction or inlet pipes26, carried by branch pipes 27, connected with the exhaust manifold pipe28 of the engine 17. Connected with the pump 25. `are gas outlet pipes29, which are preferably formed of flexible hose. These outlet pipes areconnected with pipes 80, extending through the offset portion 14, anddischarging gas beneath thebottom 18, upon opposite sides of thepropeller 24, as shown. It is thus apparent" that this gas will form ablanket or sheet between the bottom 18 and the water, serving tolubricate the same and reduce the friction.

rlhe steering of the boat is accomplished by means of direction rudders31, rigidly mounted upon vertical shafts 32, journaled through bearings33, rigidly attached to the rear end of the hull. The upper ends` of theshafts 32 have rigid connection'with cranks 34, which are connected by apitman or'rod 35, which may be moved by any suitable means.

ln operation, the rotation of the crank shaft 19 of the engine 17 isincreased and transmitted to the propeller' shaft 21, causing thepropeller 2a te effect the longitudinal travel of the hydroplane. Theexhaust from the engine passes through the pipes 2G inte the pump 25,and is forced thereby through pipes 29, and pipes 30 into the spacebeneath the bottom 13. As the speed of the hydroplane increases the hulltends to rise from the water, providing a passage between the bottom 18and the surface of the water into which the gases are forced, form ing ablanket or film between the bottom portion 13 and the water.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be-taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatVarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing` from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

" Having thus described my invention, l claim:

A boat hull, comprising a forward bottom portion formed substantiallyV-shaped in vertical transverse cross-section and tapering downwardly,the V-shaped bottom portion being inclined upwardly toward its forwardend, a rear bottom portion disposed in a plane above the forward bottomportion and formed curved in Vertical cross-section with its concavesurface arranged lowermost for providing an air passage, the edges ofthe curved rear bottom portion extending downwardly toward the rear endof 'the hull so that the rear end of the air passage is permanentlyopen, means to introduce gas into the air passage, and propelling meansfor the hull.

1n testimony whereof l afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARLETON RUHE.

Vitnesses CREIGHTON S. ANDREws, MATILDA l/V. AUERBACH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

